Friday, December 14, 2007

The lights dim and there is a hush over the crowd as the children come into the gym and take their places on the bleachers. As I sit on the small stage awaiting the reading of Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas, I have a wonderful view of children and parents. For on this night it is the Christmas program at Hamilton Elementary School. Camera flashes begin to go off and parents scoot up to the front to catch a glimpse and a photo of their child. I think every parent, grandparent and neighbor in Hamilton is at the program as every bleacher seat and every chair is filled.

The students have been looking forward to this for weeks practicing songs in their classroom and decorating the hallways with Santa letters and Christmas wreaths made from old cards and paper plates. The evening hallways show off the twinkle lights that adorn bulletin boards. If you were to take a step back in time Hamilton School is reminiscent of decades gone by. The modern conveniences that are so prominent in the new schools have passed us by. There are no phones or televisions in the classrooms….no modern cloakrooms…no state of the art conveniences, but Hamilton has been home to me for as long as I can now remember. There is something wonderful about this hometown school, I guess you could call us all family as opposed to teachers and staff. On this Christmas program night it is evident as teachers make their way back to school to open up classrooms so children can gather. The hallways are full of laughter and love and beauty. Children who normally attend school in t-shirts and jeans are now in dresses of pink and red…satin and bows. The boys have vests and white shirts with the collars sticking up in the back and their hair slicked down by mothers who tried to make them stand still all the while.

I remember my very first Christmas program as I child. It wasn’t fancy, we just sang. I do know that I secretly wanted the lead part, but it went to a girl in my classroom who read the Bible twice through already. Or so she said. (We were in fourth grade!) My dress was blue and I got to wear my patent leather shoes to the program as opposed to my every day saddle oxfords. I remember standing on that stage unable to breath as I was so nervous. I was shy when I was young.The teacher, Miss Lomont, came and sat by me and patted my knee. My hair was in pigtails, my teeth were crooked, but I felt so important in that moment.

Tonight is the same. I look at their faces. Hope. Sweetness. Courage. Impishness. Twinkle lights adorn the gym and they begin singing Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas. Every child sings as loud as he/she can. Each class one a time sings a song or two. They even put a dreamy feel in White Christmas. At one of the rehearsals I heard Tonya, one of our teachers, say to them…sing it for your grandparents, it is their song. She was so right. On this night they do sing it for their grandparents.

The show isn’t fancy…no speaking parts…no dramatic sets or costumes…and some of the time they are off key and not even with the music. It doesn’t matter. The program ends with thunderous clapping and there is great commotion of parents and children trying to find each other. Children are anxious to hear the words the program was wonderful, you are wonderful.

As quickly as the gym was set up to look like a fairyland, it is taken apart and everything hauled back into classrooms or car trunks. The lights are stark and bright and tomorrow the high school students will play basketball in the gym. Tomorrow the children will wear t-shirts and jeans, but the Christmas magic will remain.

I drive back home over roads that are still a bit icy from the morning snow. They are empty and deep coldness is settling down upon us. In our world of change I am thankful for things that do not. Christmas programs. Moonlight on snow. Christmas lights in windows. Children. I pull into the driveway at the White Picket Gardens. It is good to come home. I find another warm quilt in the closet and find myself humming White Christmas as I close the curtains on the holy darkness.

What's happening in my hometown this week?

There continues to be music on the square and just about everywhere else this weekend. Friday night John Getz is playing at Chapman's Brewery and the Goat Beards are at Six Autumns. Saturday afternoon is the kick off for the Ecological 200 year old party at Wing Haven. This is a hands on event for everywhere! Again there is music at Briali's on Sunday. Wherever you are get out and enjoy this weekend!!

And how can you get in contact with me??

This is my hometown, Angola, Indiana. I am there a lot, but I am gone a lot too. You can reach me at 260-312-7225 or my email address: locketoftime@aol.com. This summer I am telling stories in libraries and festivals, teaching drama camps, and hosting my Ariizona family! I am taking the month of August off to get ready for the school year and do some traveling of my own!! If you are looking to book in the fall, the dates arer filling up quickly so let's talk soon.

And the teaching continues....

A few years ago Dr. Timothy Hopp called me out of the blue. he asked if I would be interested in teaching a few classes at Trine. I really wasn't sure as I had just left public school and had other ideas that I was thinking about doing, but I decided to give it a try. I can't imagine my life without it now! This spring at the faculty breakfast before graduation, I was honored with the Outstanding Adjunct Professor Award for 2017. I was absolutely giddy. I love the job, and it is so nice the faculty in my department appreciates my quirky ways. And, yes, I will be back!!

Signs of Summer...

My garden is really beautiful this summer. I have lots of flowers. The herbs are full and blooming as well as the vegetable garden. My raspberries are just gorgeous with plenty to eat and plenty to put away for the winter!

Storytelling with Lou Ann

Anniei's Attic is a wonderful week-long opportunity for students and teachers.

And, yes, I can call square dances!

I also am now in a small (very small band) Schmaltz and Blarney. We are available for hire. What makes us different is that we bring along song books! Give us a call!

Lou Ann and Goldilocks

Ocassionally Goldilocks makes it to the stage with Lou Ann. They really do look alike!

Lou Ann Homan portraying Gene Stratton-Porter

This is just one of my first person character shows!

A nice little bio...

Lou Ann Homan is a writer, a teacher, a storyteller and a lover of small towns. Her enthusiasm for teaching has graced Indiana classrooms for over 30 years and has been twice awarded the prestigious Lilly Teacher Creativity Award. She is currently a professor at Trine University in the Humanities and Communication Department.

Lou Ann is an award-winning columnist for KPC Media Group whose weekly column has appeared every Saturday morning for ten years in newspapers in all four counties in northern Indiana. In 2014 Lou Ann received the Mayor’s Arts and Humanities Award.

Lou Ann’s storytelling skills have twice brought her the Frank Basile Emerging Stories Fellowship grant, and two commissioned pieces from Indiana Landmarks. She has told stories on many Fringe Festival stages throughout the Midwest and has carried her from the green hills of Ireland to China, and from Florida to Arizona. She has been on the roster of Arts for Learning for many years and was awarded the Anna Award in 2015 for her outstanding plan for program enhancement.

When not traveling Lou Ann can be found in her hometown of Angola, Indiana where she is a member of the Historic Preservation Commission. She writes late into the night under a red frayed lamplight, gardens at the community gardens, celebrates and promotes cultural events, tell stories on the square and bikes her way around her small town!

She is delighted to bring you stories!

If you like I can send my blog to you every day on your email!

Lou Ann Homan

Click on the Photo to View a Sample of My Storytelling

Storyteller's Journal

Dear Folks,

Welcome to my world of storytelling, writing, and as you can see, dreamer of dreams. My storytelling has taken me to all sorts of locations around the country and in a few other countries. I have shows suitable for all ages and interests.

I do programs for teachers, for poets, for students, and for all who love the sound of language and words. I also am a Fringe Festival artist!

I also am a faculty member of Trine University where I teach writing and speech. I am a columnist for our local paper, The Herald Republican. My columns appear on Saturday and have been featured for nine years!

I am a traveler, a hobo, a drifter, a gatherer of tales, and a one-woman show. Thanks for taking the time to take a look. I would love to talk with you, share emails and blogs or even share a cup of tea in my lovely old house. Above all, I would love to share stories with you.

Lou Ann

Storytelling in Schools

Murder Mystery Weekends

Research Projects for your town

Scary Stories for the Autumn

Summer reading programs

Anne Bonny and other women pirates

Winter Woolies

Keynoting for schools

Workshops for students and teachers

Square Dance calling

Writing workshops

Poetry and Haiku workshops

Writing and directing of shows (especially murder mystery shows for middle school, have several to choose from. This is a weeklong residency.)

About Me

I am a storyteller, a theater coach, an actress, and a writer. When I am not traveling and gathering stories, you can find me writing late into the evening under the light of my old scarlet, frayed lamp. I am a believer in small towns in America and the blog is written to bring focus to them and to save them!
I also garden and am deeply aware of the environment and the issues. Please visit my blog often to share with me short stories that just happen, recipes, gardening, environmental preservation, books, photography and family, of course!